Golf putting trainer

ABSTRACT

A putter trainer includes a core having an elevated central region; and a cover having an opening adapted to engage the elevated central region.

[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional ApplicationSerial No. 60/347,727, filed on Jan. 11, 2002, the content of which ishereby incorporated-by-reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to golf instructional or trainingdevices and, more particularly, to golf training devices that areuser-mountable on putters.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] In the game of golf, a putting stroke is used with a golf club toroll a golf ball across a putting green into a hole. The success of thestroke depends on the alignment of a club face of the golf club atimpact, the direction of movement of a club head of the golf club atimpact, and the speed of the club head at impact. To improve puttingproficiency, the golfer must adopt and learn a consistent andreproducible putting stroke, including controlling the alignment of aputter's club face and the direction of movement of a club head at thepoint of impact in a consistent manner. One effective putting strokeprovides a pendulum-like motion in which the golfer's arms movetogether, the pendulum-like motion originating in the golfer'sshoulders. Generally, the larger shoulder muscles of the upper body aremuch more controllable than the smaller arm muscles and, therefore,provide better control of the putting stroke.

[0006] As discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,041, a variety of deviceshave been developed to assist the golfer in aligning the golfer's feetand club head as well as devices to help groove the proper swing path.One category of such devices includes those with one or two guide railsplaced adjacent to the golf ball. The golfer can stroke the club alongthe guide rails to practice a straight-back and straight-through puttingstroke. Unfortunately, the guide rails are not typically adjustable intheir spaced-apart positions from each other. Such adjustment isdesirable because golf clubs, particularly putters, come in a variety ofdifferently-sized dub heads. In order to tightly constrain the movingclub head to be between the two guide rails, it is necessary to provideadjustability of the positions of the guide rails. A device which doesprovide adjustable guide rails involves loosening a screw and adjustinga housing relative to another housing and then re-tightening the screw.

[0007] Other devices which assist the golfer in the alignment of theclub head have included laser light sources associated with the golfclub and indicating the direction in which the club face is pointed.Each of the devices either requires a specialized, custom putterincorporating the device or requires a modification or attachment to thegolfer's own putter. Such devices do not accommodate the golfer's desireto practice with their own putter in an unmodified fashion. Golf clubs,and particularly putters, come in a variety of lengths, weights, anddistributions of weight along the golf club. Further, the shape of theclub head provides an aesthetic appearance which may instill confidencein the golfer. These factors cause a golfer to become comfortable withtheir own putter and less likely to use or feel comfortable with aspecialized, custom putter or even with their own putter if modified tochange the appearance, shape, and/or weight distribution.

SUMMARY

[0008] The present invention is, of course, described in the claims.Briefly, however, the invention provides a putter trainer that includesa core having an elevated central region; and a cover having an openingadapted to engage the elevated central region. Implementations of theputter trainer may include one or more of the following. The core mayinclude one or more grooves and the cover may include one or morecorresponding projections adapted to engage the grooves on the core. Thecover may include one or more surface recesses. The cover may includeone or more concave dot pattern on the surface of the cover. Ahorizontal and vertical cross pattern may be formed on the surface ofthe cover to create a visual alignment system. An adhesive layer may bepositioned on a rear surface of the core. The adhesive layer may be glueor wax. The size of the elevated central flat region may be changed toaccommodate golfer skill. The core may be injection molded and may bepolypropylene. The cover may be transfer molded onto the core and may besanaprene. The central flat region may have a shape selected from one ofthe following: circle, square, triangle, rectangle, and octagon. Thecore may have a substantially circular base and the cover may have asubstantially semispherical shape. The core may be a cone and whereinthe elevated central region may be rounded.

[0009] In another aspect, a putter trainer includes a core having anelevated central region; one or more grooves on the side of the core,one or more concave dot pattern on the surface of the cover, and ahorizontal and vertical cross pattern on the surface of the cover,wherein the concave dot pattern and the cross pattern forms a visualalignment system. The trainer also includes a cover having an openingadapted to engage the elevated central region and one or morecorresponding projections adapted to engage the grooves on the side ofthe core.

[0010] Implementations of the above aspects may include one or more ofthe following. The core and the cover may be made from differentmaterial to sound and feel differently when they make contact with theball. When a ball strikes the core, a crisp, solid feel and click aregenerated and when the ball strikes the cover, a different feel andsound are generated.

[0011] Advantages of the invention may include one or more of thefollowing. The training device is inexpensive while achieving itsdesired results. Since the golfer can attach the trainer to his/her ownputter, there is no need for a separate device that has a completelydifferent feel than the golfers own putter—the device is used with agolfer's own equipment and thus can be used under the same conditionsthe golfer faces on the golf course. The device is small, easy totransport and nearly indestructible. It is easy to use: the golfersimply presses it onto the face of the putter, centering it on the“sweet spot”. It takes only seconds to ready the device for use orremove it for storage. The device is small enough to fit in the golferspocket and can be used anywhere. The device can be used at the golfcourse and stored in the golfer's bag, eliminating the inconvenience ofa larger device that, under the rules of golf, cannot be carried in thegolfer's bag during play. The device requires minimal care and virtuallyno upkeep since it is reusable and ultimately disposable.

[0012] With the trainer attached to the putter, the golfer simply makeshis/her natural putting stroke. The device also provides instantfeedback on the putting stroke to the golfer. The feedback from thedevice indicates the position of the putter face as it strikes the ball.Depending on the direction the ball travels after it has been struck,the golfer can determine exactly where on the putter face the ball wasstruck, the swing plane of the putter prior to striking the ball andwhether or not the face of the putter is square to the line of the putt.With this knowledge, the golfer can acquire a “feel” for a consistent,solid putting stroke.

[0013] The device also provides more distinctive feedback than otherdevices. Aside from the advantage of using the golfer's own putter tomaintain consistent feel, the two types of plastic used to construct thedevice both sound and feel differently when they make contact with theball. The hard core, when struck precisely, gives off a crisp, solidfeel and click. When the ball is miss-hit and it makes contact with thesoft outer shell, the feel and sound are decidedly different than asolidly struck ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Further features of the training device will be clear to thoseskilled in the art from a review of the following specification anddrawings, all of which present a non-limiting form of the invention. Inthe drawings:

[0015]FIG. 1 shows an exemplary set of three training devices.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of theinvention;

[0017]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

[0018]FIG. 4 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2; and

[0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a golf putter with a trainingdevice mounted on the face of the clubhead.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021]FIG. 1 shows an exemplary set of three training devices 100, 102and 104. The three devices 100-104 allow golfers of different skilllevels to choose a particular size that benefits them the most duringpractice. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the device 100 has asubstantially flat elevated region of about ¼″, the device 102 has asubstantially flat elevated region of about ⅜″, and the device 104 has asubstantially flat elevated region of about ½″. To use the device, thegolfer simply selects one of the devices 100-104 and presses theselected device onto the face of a putter, preferably centering it on a“sweet spot”.

[0022] With the trainer attached to a putter, a golfer simply makeshis/her natural putting stroke. The exposed portions are advantageouslyidentical in dimension and profile, providing that both front and rearstriking faces are identical in profile and are equal in degree of loftin accordance with USGA rules defining putter heads.

[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a perspective and exploded viewof a first embodiment is shown. A putter trainer 100 includes a core 110having a substantially planar circular base 111 and a substantiallycircular elevated planar central region 112. The elevated central region112 is smaller and a surface between the region 112 and the base 111 issloped at an angle relative to the base 111. One or more grooves 114 areformed in parallel and extend along a substantially vertical directionrunning between the elevated central region 112 and the base 111. In oneembodiment, eight grooves 114 are provided.

[0024] The trainer 100 also includes a cover 150 having an opening oraperture 152 adapted to receive and engage the elevated central region112. The cover 150 includes one or more corresponding projections 154adapted to engage the grooves 114 on the core 110. The cover 150includes one or more surface recesses 156. The cover can include one ormore dimples or concave dot pattern 158 on the surface of the cover 150.

[0025] In this embodiment, one or more horizontal and vertical crosspatterns 160 are positioned on the surface of the cover 150. The concavedot pattern 158 and the cross pattern 160 form a visual alignmentsystem.

[0026] An adhesive layer positioned on a rear surface of the core 110 toattached the trainer 100 to a putting head 190 of a golf club 200. Theadhesive layer includes those manufactured and sold under the trademarksQuakeHold! from QuakeHold!, San Marcos, Calif. In another embodimentwaxes that have been found to work well include those manufactured andsold under the trademarks QUAKE WAX, Multiwax X-145A; Multiwax W445, andKIDS WAX by Conservation Materials Ltd. of Sparks, Nev. These waxes aremicrocrystalline wax blends characterizable as follows:

[0027] WAX PRODUCT SOFTENING POINT in deg. F.

[0028] QUAKE WAX 170-175

[0029] MULTIWAX X-145 A

[0030] 160-170, needle penetration=34/45 mm.

[0031] MULTIWAX W445 170-180, needle penetration=25/35 mm.

[0032] KIDSWAX 165-175

[0033] The softening point is quantified under an ASTM D-127 testmethod.

[0034] The size of the elevated central flat region 112 can be changedto accommodate golfer skill. Further, the central flat region 112 has ashape selected from one of the following: circle, square, triangle,rectangle, and octagon.

[0035] The core 110 can be cone-shaped and the elevated central region112 is rounded. The core 110 can be injection molded usingpolypropylene, for example. The cover 150 is transfer molded onto thecore, and can be made from sanaprene. The combination of the core 110and the cover 150 provides more distinctive feedback than other devices.The two types of plastic used to construct the device both sound andfeel differently when they make contact with the ball. The hard core,when struck precisely, gives off a crisp, solid feel and click. When theball is miss-hit and it makes contact with the soft outer shell, thefeel and sound are decidedly different than a solidly struck ball.

[0036] In a second embodiment, a putter trainer includes a core havingan elevated central region; one or more grooves on the side of the core,one or more concave dot pattern on the surface of the cover, and ahorizontal and vertical cross pattern on the surface of the cover,wherein the concave dot pattern and the cross pattern forms a visualalignment system; and a cover having an opening adapted to engage theelevated central region and one or more corresponding projectionsadapted to engage the grooves on the side of the core.

[0037] An adhesive layer can be positioned on a rear surface of thecore. The core includes a cone and wherein the elevated central regionis rounded.

[0038] In a third embodiment, a training device includes a putter havinga sweet spot; and a putter trainer adapted to be mounted on the sweetspot. The putter includes a core having an elevated central region and acover having an opening adapted to engage the elevated central region.The core includes a cone and the elevated central region can be rounded.

[0039] The above training devices may be secured to the face of theputterhead by a variety of means, such as by adhesion or friction. Thetraining can also be secured by press fitting. The training device canhave a back face that is in contact with the face of the putter. The“touch and the feel” of the putter may be altered by varying the amountof material of the device 100.

[0040] Turning now to FIG. 6, a golf club 210 has a shaft 212 attachedto a club head 214. A putter-type club head is shown in FIG. 6, however,as explained herein, other club head types, such as irons or woods, mayalso be prepared. The club head 214 has a hosel 216 that accepts theshaft 212 with a heel 218 at the hosel end of the club head 214 and atoe 220 opposite of the heel 218. The club head 214 also has a soleportion 226 and an opposite top portion 228. Extending between the heel214 and the toe 220 is a strike face 222, which is the surface that usedto contact a golf ball 223 upon impact between the golf club 210 and theball 223. The strike face 222 includes a “sweet spot,” or the center ofgravity in the toe to heel direction, on which is mounted the trainingdevice 100 of FIG. 1. The device 100 is made of a material that isdifferent than the rest of the club head.

[0041] In the present invention, golf ball is struck. Impact forces aredampened and transferred radially, in directions perpendicular to axisfrom core perimeter surface through the interface surface of the cavityto the surrounding putter body. The result is that, should the putterface strike the golf ball outside of the preferred strike regions, thedampening effect is diminished when compared with striking the golf ballwithin the preferred region. It is the reduction of vibrations and orresonating frequencies afforded through radial dampening and theresultant improved ball response and sound made by the strike thatresults in what golfers describe as a “softer feeling” putter. Feel, asrelating to golf, can be described as the resonance or vibrationsaudibly transmitted to the golfer, and tactilely transmitted through theshaft and grip to the golfer's hands, caused by impact between the clubface, golf ball, and in some instances the turf or other foreignobstacles. Feel may further be described as a flexation or twistingtorque applied to the shaft during the swing or putting stroke at anypoint including impact. Feel, in other words, is the feedback to thegolfer whether auditory or tactile.

[0042] The core 110 communicates with the surrounding body of the putterin an evenly radially distributed fashion through its perimeter or outersurface. This better communicates to the golfer information about how agolf ball was struck. This allows the golfer to make the necessaryadjustments to improve his or her putting stroke.

[0043] It should be understood that one of ordinary skill in the art canprepare any size or shape of putting trainer in accordance with thepresent invention, and attach the trainer to any type of club. Forexample, a substantially rectangular shaped trainer can be prepared,preferably rectangular. “Substantially rectangular” means a shape thatwill fill a significant portion of the striking face of a club.Preferably, the club is an iron or a putter. More preferably, the clubcontaining the device is a putter. It should also be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art that multiple trainers can be used in aclub, so long as at least one such trainer is prepared according to theteaching herein.

[0044] Additionally, instead of being glued to the putter, the trainingdevice can be releasably secured to putter face by a pair of headedscrews inserted through a pair of longitudinally disposed, laterallyspaced apart holes. Screws can be threadingly secured by and tightenedinto threaded backing plate holes, thereby securing the device 100 tothe putter head.

[0045] It will additionally be recognized that the present inventioncontemplates the use of differing training devices to in effect, modifythe feel and operating characteristics of the putter head. In thisregard, when desired, more resilient polymer materials can be utilizedfor the cover and the core. Alternatively when desired, hard materialcan be utilized to enable customized performance characteristics.

[0046] Variations in the invention are possible. Thus, while theinvention has been shown with three embodiments, it is not so limitedbut is of a scope defined by the following claim language which may bebroadened by an extension of the right to exclude others from making,using or selling the invention as is appropriate under the doctrine ofequivalents.

[0047] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light ofthe foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications arepossible in the practice of this invention without departing from thespirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is tobe construed in accordance with the substance defined by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is: 1 A putter trainer, comprising: a core having an elevated central region; and a cover having an opening adapted to engage the elevated central region. 2 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the core comprises one or more grooves and wherein the cover comprises one or more corresponding projections adapted to engage the grooves on the core. 3 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises one or more surface recesses. 4 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises one or more concave dot pattern on the surface of the cover. 5 The putter trainer of claim 5, further comprising a horizontal and vertical cross pattern on the surface of the cover, wherein the concave dot pattern and the cross pattern forms a visual alignment system. 6 The putter trainer of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer positioned on a rear surface of the core. 7 The putter trainer of claim 6, wherein the adhesive layer comprises glue or wax. 8 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the size of the elevated central flat region is changed to accommodate golfer skill. 9 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the core is injection molded. 10 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the core comprises polypropylene. 11 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the cover is transfer molded onto the core. 12 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises sanaprene. 13 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the central flat region has a shape selected from one of the following: circle, square, triangle, rectangle, and octagon. 14 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a substantially circular base and wherein the cover comprises a substantially semi-spherical shape. 15 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a cone and wherein the elevated central region is rounded. 16 A putter trainer, comprising: a core having an elevated central region; one or more grooves on the side of the core, one or more concave dot pattern on the surface of the cover, and a horizontal and vertical cross pattern on the surface of the cover, wherein the concave dot pattern and the cross pattern forms a visual alignment system; and a cover having an opening adapted to engage the elevated central region and one or more corresponding projections adapted to engage the grooves on the side of the core. 17 The putter trainer of claim 16, further comprising an adhesive layer positioned on a rear surface of the core. 18 The putter trainer of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a cone and wherein the elevated central region is rounded. 19 A training system, comprising: a putter having a sweet spot; and a putter trainer adapted to be mounted on the sweet spot, comprising: a core having an elevated central region; and a cover having an opening adapted to engage the elevated central region. 20 The putter trainer of claim 19, wherein the core and the cover are made from different material to sound and feel differently when they make contact with the ball. 21 The putter trainer of claim 19, wherein when a ball strikes the core, a crisp, solid feel and click are generated and when the ball strikes the cover, a different feel and sound are generated. 